June 7, 2019
Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak has signed legislation into law prohibiting certain employers from refusing to hire a worker because he or she tested positive for cannabis. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2020.
Assembly Bill 132 makes it “unlawful for any employer in [Nevada] to fail or refuse to hire a prospective employee because the prospective employee submitted to a screening test and the results of the screening test indicate the presence of marijuana.”
The law is not applicable to prospective employees seeking certain safety sensitive positions, such as those seeking employment as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, or federally licensed drivers.
Earlier this year, New York City lawmakers enacted municipal legislation barring non-safety sensitive employers from administering marijuana drug tests to prospective employees.
Urinalysis drug screening, which is most commonly utilized by employers, detects the presence of inactive marijuana metabolites. The residual presence of these compounds may be detectable in urine for several weeks or even months following cannabis abstinence.
In recent days, the Governor has also signed legislation into law facilitating the expungement of prior marijuana convictions, expanding the state’s medical cannabis access program, and encouraging financial institutions to work with licensed marijuana businesses and to process financial transactions.
For more information on pending legislation, visit NORML’s Take Action Center.
